Meet Aki Kijima | A founder & Creator of Handmade Jewelry Brand AKI ROC JEWELRY

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aki Kijima and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aki, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting my own business was my passion for jewelry, my creative outlet, and a long-held dream of mine. I wanted to creating my own design brand since I was 17 years old. It was my dedication and commitment to turn my dream into a reality, I was saving for the dreams whenever I could.

For the past 20 years, I made my career as a professional jewelry designer and that’s where I learned how to build jewelry brands and collections. I worked for Betsey Johnson jewelry brand for 10 years as a lead designer. Animal jewelry was the customer’s demand there so I know my brand would be with animals. I was seeking its concept with Animals for a while, but when I went to Machu Picchu in Peru in 2015, an idea for my brand concept came through me!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I handcraft snake themed jewelry with love and care using only high-quality materials. It has the artistry and quality, with the added spiritual benefit of snake healing energy. My jewelry is beautifully designed with style and comfort, and each piece is created in downtown Jersey City and casted in the Diamond district in NYC.

My inspirations come from The INCA TRILOGY, 3 stages of life, from my trip to Machu Picchu, Peru. The symbolism behind the serpent is the underworld, which represents transformation, rebirth, and spiritual awakening.
At that moment, I was personally experiencing the dissolution of my marriage. Discovering The INCA TRILOGY was the biggest push for transforming my life journey. I found the strength and motivation to start my own brand during this challenging time and moved away to a new 3 bed room with my son who was only 3 years old at the time. Major life changes, such as a divorce, can often inspire individuals to reevaluate their goals, seek new opportunities, and embark on a path of personal growth and independence! I transformed myself as a single mom who chose to shed self-limiting beliefs, and embrace a new beginning. I create my debut collection called “REBIRTH”
It was my own healing process and I launched my online store “AKI ROC JEWELRY” in 2019.

It wasn’t easy to make my snake, but I just didn’t give up. Building a jewelry brand that I desire offered me the opportunity to channel my energy and emotions into something positive and fulfilling. It takes a ton of practice and a lot of time, yet I embraced my new journey filled with possibilities. The lessons I’ve learned along the way, especially going through the Pandemic time are that the power of transformation, positive thinking, and the benefit of shedding our self-limiting beliefs and go beyond our limitations.
I have created EVERYDAY JEWELRY collection in the challenging time that is simple, comfortable and beautiful. Eventually they all became my bestsellers.

I’m a graduate of F.I.T. with a Major in Jewelry Design. My career became as a professional jewelry designer for the past 20 years. I have designed for Betsey Johnson jewelry as a lead designer for 10 years. I also freelanced for Disney Parks, Miriam Haskell, and STEVE MADDEN Jewelry. The most recently, I was freelancing for Target jewelry, and this is how I got to where I am today professionally. Everything I experienced from my career has been helping me to gain my creative outlet.

My snake themed jewelry that seamlessly weaves ancient beliefs into our current, modern life is my art. I take pride in creating jewelry that not only looks beautiful but is also spiritually empowering. It’s meant to symbolize shedding our self-limiting beliefs as snake sheds its own skin and embracing new beginnings.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I LOVE many places in the city, but I would take her to these 4 places.

1, the High Line in Manhattan. It is a beautifully designed long pathway styled park that runs from 14th street to 34th Street where used to be a train track. Throughout the park, you can see there’re unique plants and beautiful flowers and new archetect buildings of Manhattan. I would go to Hudson Yards that begins from 30th street for eat, drink, and shop.

2, Dumbo in Brooklyn. The magnificent view of downtown Manhattan sky line, and East River are breathtaking. There are tons of things to do and see in the neighborhood.

3, Exchange Place in Jersey City. Personally, I love to be there in a sunny day and night because this is where I live and I believe it’s the most beautiful city of NJ. The magnificent view of Manhattan sky line and Hudson River are breathtaking. Then walk to Grove Street for more attractions.

4, The Statue of Liberty. From the ferry rides to get to the island of Beauty, you will experience the feeling of an adrenaline rush!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have so many individuals that I want to dedicate my shoutout to, but the first person who I want to thank is Sas! He is a very successful entrepreneur, my mentor, my partner, and the biggest supporter of mine. He dedicates his time and effort for me to succeed in my new business.

Also my parents who are always supportive and are the biggest cheerleaders in my entrepreneurial journey and my son who can assist me and who I can trust. Dan who believed in me and opened the door to a luxury market for me.
Paula, my personal financial advisor who pushed me to go all the way into being an entrepreneur, and recommended me the current online business course.

Website: www.akirocjewelry.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/akirocjewelry

Linkedin: Aki ko Kijima

Facebook: www.facebook.com/akirocjewley